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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. (KMOV.com) -- A Metro-East woman is taking a stand after seeing crime increase in her neighborhood.

Sharon Sandheinrich is now the first neighborhood watch captain on her Fairview Heights street. She says a neighbor across the street had their car stolen. A few weeks later, Sandheinrich says car thieves stole a vehicle down the street.

"Things have changed here in Fairview Heights," she said. "It's not the same city it was when I grew up."

With help from the local police department, residents and officers are keeping a closer watch on the town's neighborhoods. Authorities say 95 percent of residents have shown support for the Neighborhood Watch program, allowing the officials signs to go up.

While residents hope the signs keep criminals off their street, many say they also hope nearby streets adopt a similar program.

"It's just a domino effect," Sandheinrich said. "I don't want it to happen to all those other streets and people."